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CHAIRMAN:

Paul L. Ziemer, Ph.D.
Lafayette, Indiana

MEMBERS:

Josie Beach
Richland, Washington

Bradley P. Clawson
Rexburg, Idaho

Michael H. Gibson
Franklin, Ohio

Mark A. Griffon
Salem, New Hampshire

James E. Lockey, M.D.
Cincinnati, Ohio

James M. Melius, M.D., Ph.D.
Albany, New York

Wanda |. Munn
Richland, Washington

John W. Poston, Sr., Ph.D.
College Station, Texas

Robert W. Presley
Seymour, Tennessee

Genevieve S. Roessler, Ph.D.
Elysian, Minnesota

Phillip Schofield
Bosque Farm, New Mexico

STAFF:

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY:
Theodore M. Katz, MPA

Atlanta, Georgia

COMMITTEE MANAGEMENT :

Zaida Burgos
Atlanta, Georgia

ADVISORY BOARD ON RADIATION AND WORKER HEALTH
4676 Columbia Parkway, MS: C-46
Cincinnati, Ohio 45226
(513) 533-6825

May 19, 2009

The Honorable Kathleen Sebelius
Secretary

Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201

Dear Madam Secretary:

The Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health (The Board) has
evaluated Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) Petition 00129 concerning
workers at the Standard Oil Development Company, in Linden, New Jersey,
under the statutory requirements established by the Energy Employees
Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA) and
incorporated into 42 CFR Sec. 83.13 (c)(1) and 42CFR Sec. 83.13 (c)(3).
The Board respectfully recommends Special Exposure Cohort (SEC)
designation be accorded to all Atomic Weapons Employer (AWE) employees
who worked at the Standard Oil Development Company in Linden New
Jersey from August 13, 1942 through December 31, 1945 for a number of
work days aggregating at least 250 work days occurring either solely under
this employment or in combination with work days within the parameters
established for one or more other classes of employees in the SEC. The
Board notes that although NIOSH found that they were unable to completely
reconstruct radiation doses for these employees, they believe that they are
able to reconstruct the occupational medical dose.

This recommendation is based on the following factors:

e The Standard Oil Development Company was involved in early
development work relate to uranium enrichment for the manufacture of
atomic weapons.

e NIOSH was unable to locate sufficient monitoring data, information on
operations at the site, and source term information at this site in order to
be able to complete accurate individual dose reconstructions for potential
internal and external radiation exposures to which these workers may
have been subjected. The Board concurs with this conclusion.

e NIOSH determined that health may have been endangered for the workers
exposed to radiation at this facility during the time period in question. The
Board also concurs with this determination.


The Honorable Kathleen Sebelius May 19, 2009

Based on these considerations, and on the discussions and deliberations at our May 12, 2009,
Advisory Board meeting held in Amarillo, Texas, the Board recommends that this Special Exposure
Cohort petition be granted. The Board notes that NIOSH is continuing to evaluate information on
potential exposures during the residual contamination period from 1946 to 2006, and will make a
recommendation regarding this time period sometime in the future.

Enclosed is supporting documentation from the recent Advisory Board where this Special Exposure
Cohort class was discussed. The documentation includes transcripts of the deliberations, copies of
the petition, and the NIOSH review thereof, and related documents distributed by NIOSH. If any of
these items are unavailable at this time, they will follow shortly.

Sincerely,
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Paul L. Ziemer, Ph.D.
Chair

Enclosure

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